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 Post subject: Winter and my mast
PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 1:03 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2015 6:19 pm
Posts: 9
Hello all I hope everyone has had a great summer! Things are starting to slow down and I am thinking about what I am going to do with the boat for the winter. What is your opinions on leaving the mast up for the winter? Boat is in Wisconsin.

TIA

Matt


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 Post subject: Re: Winter and my mast
PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 7:50 pm 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2004 8:45 pm
Posts: 648
Location: Saskatoon, Sk. Canada
If the boat in on dry land it really doesn't make sense to leave it up, If you absolutely have to leave it up you need to securit so it can't slop around in the wind. If the boat is sitting on the trailer all winter can't you just lay the mast under the boat and on top of the trailer?

Not like I am the expert or anything but after owning many Hobies spanning 3 decades I never left the mast up in the off season.

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 Post subject: Re: Winter and my mast
PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2016 2:54 pm 
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Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 1:30 pm
Posts: 984
Location: Benicia, CA
I'm with Roy. Take the mast down. You don't want the ball/cup constantly grinding nor the dynamic loads on the chainplates/hound or even the bouncing on the main beam/ama joint. While you are at it, winterize the boat. Ensure no water in floats; ensure water can't collect in them. The plastic hulls might actually be more able to withstand winter than fiberglass since they are more flexible for water expansion as it freezes--but why take the chance?

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 Post subject: Re: Winter and my mast
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 10:41 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:13 am
Posts: 1184
Location: Nepean S.C. Ottawa, Canada
This will be our 27th year of taking down the mast for winter.
We store masts under the deck of the Clubhouse, out of the sun, out of the snow.

All Hobie's are dried out, plugs and portholes removed (so they can breathe), and we raise the whole boat so that it doesn't 'sit' in the snowpack.
The bow is higher, so the boat can drain naturally, if required.
We used to stack car tyres underneath, now we have wooden frames with closed cell foam.
Then we wrap the entire Hobie in a tarpaulin to protect it from freezing rain, ice and sun.

Temperature is never a problem, the sun and the freeze/melt cycle are problems.

Don't forget to tie it down securely, at both cross bars.

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 Post subject: Re: Winter and my mast
PostPosted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 10:34 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:27 pm
Posts: 117
Location: Tarpon Springs, Florida
I would definitely take the mast down for the winter. Even here in MD, the winter weather conditions can take their toll on the shrouds, ball mount, etc. with constant movement. Last winter my catamaran neighbor on the beach left his mast up. One of the shrouds came loose and the whole works came down barely missing my Getaway. Not good.

Also, I'd drill a hole in the near the bottom of the mast to let the water drain out and let the mast rest at an angle to direct water toward it. You don't want water collecting and freezing inside. Call your Hobie dealer and they can walk you through where to drill the hole and what size drill bit to use.

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 Post subject: Re: Winter and my mast
PostPosted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:17 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4176
Location: Jersey Shore
Agree with what others have said. Just take it down. It's a five minute process and will save wear and tear on your rigging and that way there's no risk of water collecting in the bottom of the mast, freezing, and cracking the mast. Plus it gives you the opportunity to inspect the mast tang, halyard sheave, ect. You can also cover the comptip which will reduce UV exposure so it lasts longer.

There's really no good reason to leave the mast up if you know you won't be using the boat.

sm


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